Wheel center cap assembly

ABSTRACT

The invention concerns wheel center cap assemblies that include an adapter and a wheel center cap that registers with, or is integral with, the adapter. In some embodiments, the adapter includes tracks and lug sleeves that couple with lugs of the vehicle wheel. Each of the lug sleeves is slidably coupled to each of the tracks of the adapter, and each of the lug sleeves is adapted to move along a length of the tracks; this helps ensure that the adapter is universally compatible with multiple wheel models. In other embodiments, an adapter has a body adapted to be inserted within the center aperture of the wheel. A posterior support registers with the adapter and is sandwiched between a rotor of the vehicle and the wheel to secure the adapter inside the aperture of the wheel; a removable wheel center cap registers with the adapter to adorn the wheel.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to wheel center caps, and morespecifically, to wheel center cap assemblies that facilitate installinga wheel center cap on any type of vehicle wheel.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may containmaterial that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever.

Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registeredtrademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with theapplicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example andshould not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of thisinvention to material associated only with such marks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Center caps have been around for a long time and are well known. Newvehicles delivered to car lots which are sold to buyers conventionallyhave been delivered with hub caps or wheel center caps which engage tothe wheel. Manufacturers generally place indicia on these wheel coverswhich bears their name, and/or the name of the car model to which thewheel hubcap or center cap is engaged. Frequently car owners alsopurchase customized wheels for their vehicles for both decorative andperformance purposes. In a similar fashion to that of the carmanufacturers, such customized wheels also are supplied with center capsadapted to engage with the outer facing surface of the wheel whenmounted on a vehicle. In fact, the prior art is filled with a variety ofcenter caps and systems for installing the same. Nevertheless, there areseveral shortcomings in the prior art that remain unaddressed.

While such new vehicles and newly purchased custom wheels bear anattractive appearance when new, over time vehicle wheels live a tortuouslife on the road and are exposed to weather, jarring roadways, bumps,and other hazards which will result in the loss of one or more of theoriginal wheel centers. Theft can also play a role in the loss of suchdecorative wheel covering components.

One problem is the problem of dissimilar wheel lug nut spacing andpatterns. Some vehicle wheels have lug patterns which engage five lugsin a particular spacing, while others will also engage five lugs but ina different spacing thereof around the wheel and from each other. Otherwheels and vehicles may have six lugs and there can be multiple spacingsand patterns of this number of lugs engaging wheels also. Trying toproperly place replacement center caps properly positioned in the opencentral area of wheels, given the huge number of potential lug and wheelconfigurations, becomes more challenging as more wheels become availableand as older wheels become obsolete. The consequence of this is a severelimiting of the availability of replacement wheel center caps whichmight be engaged within the wheel openings because of the sheer numberof lug configurations, wheel configurations, and lug spacings.

Another problem is the typical cumbersome installation, that typicallyrequires the wheel to be completely removed and adapters for the centercap to be installed from behind the wheel. This requires moreinstallation time and thus higher labor costs. Moreover, this makesexchanging or upgrading a center cap a task for a professional ratherthan most consumers, in that a vast number of consumers may not have theequipment at home for completely removing a wheel.

As such, there exists an unmet need for a wheel center cap mountingsystem or assembly, which provides an easy to install assembly thatobviates having to remove the wheel of the vehicle and is compatiblewith a wide variety of lug spacings for different wheel types. It is tothese ends that the present invention has been developed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a wheel center cap assembly that facilitatesinstalling a wheel center cap on any type of vehicle wheel.

Generally, the invention concerns wheel center cap assemblies thatinclude an adapter and a wheel center cap that registers with, or isintegral with, the adapter. In some embodiments, the adapter includestracks and lug sleeves that couple with lugs of the vehicle wheel. Eachof the lug sleeves is slidably coupled to each of the tracks of theadapter, and each of the lug sleeves is adapted to move along a lengthof the tracks; this helps ensure that the adapter is universallycompatible with multiple wheel models. In other embodiments, an adapterhas a body adapted to be inserted within the center aperture of thewheel. A posterior support registers with the adapter and is sandwichedbetween a rotor of the vehicle and the wheel to secure the adapterinside the aperture of the wheel; a removable wheel center cap registerswith the adapter to adorn the wheel.

In some exemplary embodiments, a wheel center cap assembly may include:an adapter configured to couple with a center region of a vehicle wheel,the adapter including a plurality of tracks; a plurality of lug sleevesconfigured to couple with a plurality of lugs of the vehicle wheel, atleast one of the plurality of lug sleeves slidably coupled to at leastone of the plurality of tracks of the adapter; and a wheel center capremovably coupled to a center region of the adapter.

In some exemplary embodiments, a wheel center cap assembly may include:an adapter having an annular body and configured to couple with a centerregion of a vehicle wheel, the adapter including a plurality of trackson a posterior surface of the annular body that extend radially from acenter region of the adapter; a plurality of lug sleeves configured tocouple with a plurality of lugs of the vehicle wheel, at least one ofthe plurality of lug sleeves slidably coupled to at least one of theplurality of tracks of the adapter; and a wheel center cap removablycoupled to the center region of the adapter.

In some exemplary embodiments, a wheel center cap assembly may include:an adapter configured to couple with a center region of a vehicle wheel,the adapter including a plurality of tracks; a plurality of lug sleevesconfigured to couple with a plurality of lugs of the vehicle wheel, atleast one of the plurality of lug sleeves slidably coupled to at leastone of the plurality of tracks of the adapter; and a wheel center capremovably coupled to a center region of the adapter, wherein each lugsleeve comprises: a cylindrical body with a top surface and a bottomsurface; a track receiving cavity on the top surface of the lug sleeveconfigured to register with at least one of the plurality of tracks ofthe adapter so that the lug sleeve can move along a length of the atleast one of the plurality of tracks; and a lug receiving aperture onthe bottom surface.

In some exemplary embodiments, a wheel center cap assembly may include:an adapter having a cylindrical body adapted to be at least partiallyinserted within a center aperture of a vehicle wheel, the adapterincluding an anterior region and a posterior region; a posterior supportthat registers with the posterior region of the adapter, the posteriorsupport adapted to be sandwiched between a wheel rotor of the vehicleand the vehicle wheel to secure the adapter inside the center apertureof the vehicle wheel; and a removable wheel center cap that registerswith the anterior region of the adapter.

In some exemplary embodiments, a wheel center cap assembly may include:an adapter having a cylindrical body adapted to be at least partiallyinserted within a center aperture of a vehicle wheel, the adapterincluding an anterior region and a posterior region; a posterior supportthat registers with the posterior region of the adapter, the posteriorsupport including a flat posterior surface adapted to be sandwichedbetween a wheel rotor of the vehicle and the vehicle wheel to secure theadapter inside the center aperture of the vehicle wheel; and a removablewheel center cap that registers with the anterior region of the adapter,wherein the posterior region of the adapter includes a posteriorcylindrical surface adapted to register with a protruding cylindricalsurface of the posterior support.

Various objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration andexample, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings submittedherewith constitute a part of this specification, include exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects andfeatures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The wheel center cap assembly as disclosed herein are further describedin terms of exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments aredescribed in detail with reference to the drawings, which have notnecessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity andimprove understanding of the various embodiments of the invention.Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood tothose in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear viewof the various embodiments of the invention. These embodiments arenon-limiting exemplary embodiments, in which like reference numeralsrepresent similar structures throughout the several views of thedrawings. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a universal wheel capassembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1A illustrates an assembled view of a universal wheel cap assemblysystem in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a universal wheel cap assembly inaccordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial exploded view of a universal wheel capassembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a partial exploded view of a universal wheel capassembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4A-FIG. 4B illustrate lug sleeves for a wheel center cap assemblyin accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5-8 illustrate some exemplary configurations of universal wheel capassemblies in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a partial exploded posterior view of a universalwheel cap assembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 9A-FIG. 9B illustrate lug sleeves for a wheel center cap assemblyin accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9C illustrates a posterior view of the universal wheel cap assemblydepicted in FIG. 9.

FIG. 9D illustrates an anterior view of the universal wheel cap assemblysystem depicted in FIG. 9, including a wheel to which the system iscoupled to.

FIG. 9E illustrates a cross-sectional view of the universal wheel capassembly depicted in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 illustrates a universal center cap assembly system in accordancewith some exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 10A illustrates an exploded perspective view of a universal wheelcap assembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded perspective view of a universal wheelcap assembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates another exploded perspective view of the universalwheel cap assembly depicted in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded view of a universal wheelcap assembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional assembled view of a universalwheel cap assembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments andapplications of the present invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part thereof, where depictions aremade, by way of illustration, of specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same referencenumbers are used in the drawings and the following description to referto the same or similar elements.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present teachings may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well known structures, components and/orfunctional or structural relationship thereof, etc., have been describedat a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoidunnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meaningssuggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning.Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment/example” as used herein does notnecessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in anotherembodiment/example” as used herein does not necessarily refer to adifferent embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subjectmatter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and orsteps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements and or steps are in any way required forone or more embodiments, whether these features, elements and or stepsare included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like aresynonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and donot exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and soforth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not inits exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a listof elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements inthe list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y,and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understoodwith the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc.may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is notgenerally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at leastone of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.The term “and or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or”applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and or C can be replaced withA, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in anothersentence. A, B, and or C means that some embodiments can include A andB, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include Band C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can includeonly B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodimentsinclude A, B, and C. The term “and or” is used to avoid unnecessaryredundancy. Similarly, terms, such as “a, an,” or “the,” again, may beunderstood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage,depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “basedon” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusiveset of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additionalfactors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at leastin part on context.

While exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be described,modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. Forexample, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to theelements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described hereinmay be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to thedisclosed methods. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description isintended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step,module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novelmethods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety ofother forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form of the methods and systems described herein may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or inventionsdisclosed herein. Accordingly, the following detailed description doesnot limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure isdefined by the appended claims.

For purposes of this disclosure, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “right”,“left”, “rear”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and derivativesthereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in the figures.However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume variousalternative orientations and step sequences, except where expresslyspecified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specificdevices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, anddescribed in the following specification are simply exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims.Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related tothe embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting,unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

As used in this disclosure, the term “comprise” and variations of theterm, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” are not intended to excludeother additives, components, ingredients or steps.

Turning now to the figures, and particularly to FIG. 1, an explodedperspective view of a universal wheel cap assembly system in accordancewith some exemplary embodiments of the present invention is illustrated.More specifically, FIG. 1 depicts a universal wheel cap assembly system(system 100), in an exploded view, prior to being assembled onto a wheelof a vehicle. System 100 may generally include an adapter 101, aplurality of lug sleeves 102, which are slidably coupled to the adapter101 via a plurality of tracks on an anterior surface of the adapter 101,each of the tracks adapted to register with a portion of one of theplurality of lug sleeves 102, and a wheel center cap (cap 103), thatregisters with a center region of the adapter 101. As may be appreciatedfrom this view, adapter 101 couples to a portion of a vehicle wheel 104in order to adorn a center region 105 of the wheel 104.

In exemplary embodiments, adapter 101 has a front surface that isconfigured to conceal the wheel's bolts 106 and bolt holes thattypically surround the center region 105 from which the spokes 107radiate towards the rim 108 of the wheel 104. At the center region 105of wheel 104, an opening 109 is typically covered by a center cap, andsystem 100 enables a user to install cap 103 and any other center capthat is universally compatible with adapter 101 of system 100. That is,a generic center cap, or a previously installed center cap, may bedesirably replaced with a center cap in accordance with the presentinvention, such as cap 103. To these ends, at least a portion of adapter101 is configured to register with a center opening 109 of the wheel 104in order to secure a portion of adapter 101 to wheel 104. As will beexplained further below, lug sleeves 102 will further secure adapter 101to wheel 104. Once secured to wheel 104, cap 103 can be coupled toadapter 101. In turn, several of the exemplary elements of system 100are discussed in more detail.

Adapter 101 may be constructed of a wide variety of materials withoutdeviating from the scope of the present invention; generally materialsthat are durable, lightweight, and easy to maintain so that the portionof the adapter 101 that remains visible when installed has a desirablelook and ornamental appeal. For example, and without limiting the scopeof the present invention, adapter 101 may comprise aluminum, steel,plastic polymers, a combination of these materials, or any other type ofmaterial typically employed by wheels and center caps. Adapter 101 isgenerally flat or planar, with a round shape configured to register withat least a portion of wheel 104. Adapter 101 typically includes a ringor annulus surface area with a front or anterior annular surface thatmay be generally flat, and a rear or posterior surface including aplurality of tracks (not fully shown in this view, but see FIG. 3-FIG.4) adapted to receive a plurality of lug sleeves 102, which registerwith said tracks. As will be explained further below and with referenceto other figures, each lug sleeve may be selectively secured at adesired position along each track of the adapter 101, which allowsadapter 101 to be coupled to a wide range of wheels existing in themarket. In some exemplary embodiments, there are just enough tracks andlug sleeves to couple directly with each of the lugs of the wheel 104.In some exemplary embodiments, adapter 101 includes more tracks and lugsleeves than necessary and some of the lug sleeves are removable and maynot be required. In some exemplary embodiments, adapter 101 includes anumber of tracks and lug sleeves that are less than the number of lugson wheel 104 but may be secured to wheel 104 with the provided number oflug sleeves. Generally, however, it may be desirable to secure adapter101 to each available lug of wheel 104, as shown in the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 1.

Lug sleeves 102 may be constructed of materials that are lightweight anddurable. Generally, each lug sleeve 102 is configured to snuggly fit orsecure itself onto lugs 106 of wheel 104. This may be achieved in anumber of ways without deviating from the scope of the presentinvention. In exemplary embodiments, plastics may be used for each lugsleeve so that they are light weight and generally rigid but have somemeasure of flexibility in order for each lug sleeve to be snapped onto alug of wheel 104. Each lug sleeve 102 is further configured to registerwith each trac on the posterior surface of adapter 101. In someexemplary embodiments, each top surface of each lug sleeve 12 has anaperture with corresponding tracks that register with the tracks on theposterior surface of adapter 101. As mentioned above, in some exemplaryembodiments, each lug sleeve 102 may be removed from adapter 101.

Cap 103 is a wheel center cap. Cap 103 is removably coupled to adapter101 so that it is configured to register with a portion of adapter 101.In some exemplary embodiments, for example and without limiting thescope of the present invention, cap 103 snaps into the interior walls ofthe center region 105 within opening 109 of wheel 104. In exemplaryembodiments, cap 103 may include a logo region 103 a in which a logosuch as a vehicle brand logo may be disposed or form a design of the capthereof. Cap 101 may be constructed of a wide variety of materialswithout deviating from the scope of the present invention; generallymaterials that are durable, lightweight, and easy to maintain so thatthe portion of cap 103 that remains visible when installed has adesirable look and ornamental appeal. For example, and without limitingthe scope of the present invention, cap 103 may comprise aluminum,steel, plastic polymers, or a combination of these materials. Becausecap 103 is removable, multiple center caps with varying logos or designsdisplayed in logo region 103 a may be coupled to adapter 101, in orderto selectively adorn wheel 104 and thus the look of the vehicle's tires110. Accordingly, in some exemplary embodiments, system 100 isconfigured to universally register with any number of center caps withvarying center cap designs and or including different logos, so thatsystem 100 is a universal wheel cap assembly compatible with multiplewheel center caps in addition to cap 103.

FIG. 1A illustrates an assembled view of universal wheel cap assemblysystem 100 in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention. As may be gleaned from this view, cap 103 is secured to theannular body of adapter 101 and may be flush with the anterior surfaceof the annular body or may stick out (not shown) depending on the designof cap 103. Notably, in exemplary embodiments, the annular body ofadapter 101 conceals the lugs 106 and generally the center region 105 ofthe wheel 104.

Turning now to the next figure, FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded view of auniversal wheel cap assembly in accordance with some exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 2 depictsa front or anterior view of system 100. From this view, it may beappreciated that in some exemplary embodiments, a body 111 of adapter101 may be planar and annular with an anterior surface 112 and aposterior surface 113, whereby the anterior surface may be smooth andthe posterior surface 113 may include a plurality of tracks 114 that areadapted to slidably receive each of the lug sleeves 102. At the centerof the annular body 111, an aperture 115 may be formed in which at leasta portion of cap 103 may be removably received. To these ends, aninterior surface 116 of the annular body 111 of adapter 101, may includea coupling means 117 to secure portions of the cap 103. For example, andwithout limiting the scope of the present invention, the coupling means116 may include small apertures designed to receive pressure clips 118of cap 103, which snap into place to secure cap 103 into aperture 115 ofadapter 101.

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial exploded rear view of the universal wheelcap assembly system shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 illustrates anotherpartial exploded rear view thereof depicting the universal wheel capassembly system with each of the lug sleeves slidably coupled to adapter101. From these views, it may be appreciated that each of the lugsleeves 102 are configured to slide throughout a length of each of thetracks 114 that radiate from a center hub portion 120, which may beoptionally capped with a seal 119 to seal off the aperture 115.

Because each of the lug sleeves 102 can move along a length of each ofthe tracks 114, each lug sleeve 102 can be placed along a circumferenceabout aperture 115 in order to properly align with a lug alignment of anexisting wheel. In this way, adapter 101 is compatible with a widevariety of wheel models and configurations.

Turning now to the next figures, FIG. 4A-FIG. 4B illustrate lug sleevesfor a wheel center cap assembly in accordance with some exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. From these views, it may beappreciated that each lug sleeve 102 includes a top portion that isconfigured to receive or register with a portion of each track 114, anda bottom portion that is configured to receive or register with aportion of a wheel lug.

For example, and without limiting the scope of the present invention,FIG. 4A depicts a top view of an exemplary lug sleeve 102, whichincludes a cylindrical body 401, a top surface 402 having an aperturethat runs along a center length of the top surface 402, and a surface404 that is configured to receive a top surface of one of the tracks 114of the adapter 101. So that at least a portion of each lug sleeve 102 issecurely held to each track 114 of adapter 101, the top surface 402 withthe aperture 403 form a track receiving cavity 403 on the top surface ofthe lug sleeve 102, and may be formed in such a way that portions of thetop surface 402 hang over a portion of surface 404.

As may be better viewed in FIG. 4B, a support member 405 is formedunderneath the overhanging portion of surface 402 to form the trackreceiving cavity 403 therein. At the bottom of each lug sleeve 102, alug receiving aperture 406 may be formed having a circumference orperimeter 407 that matches a vehicle wheel lug. The perimeter 407 mayinclude a tapered surface designed so that each lug sleeve snugglyreceives each lug therein. In some exemplary embodiments, each lugsleeve may further include a clipping means for securing each lug sleeve102 to the corresponding wheel lug.

As may be appreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art,different configurations of the present invention may be possible. Forexample, and without limiting the scope of the present invention, FIG.5-8 illustrate some exemplary configurations of universal wheel capassemblies that may include five radially situated tracks adapted toreceive five lug sleeves; six radially situated tracks adapted toreceive six lug sleeves; four radially situated tracks adapted toreceive four lug sleeves; or eight radially situated tracks adapted toreceive eight lug sleeves.

Turning now to the next set of figures, FIG. 9 illustrates a partialexploded posterior view of a universal wheel cap assembly system (system900) in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention; FIG. 9A-FIG. 9B illustrate lug sleeves for wheel center capassembly of system 900; FIG. 9C illustrates a posterior view of theuniversal wheel cap assembly body depicted in FIG. 9; FIG. 9Dillustrates an anterior view of the universal wheel cap assembly systemdepicted in FIG. 9; and FIG. 9E illustrates a cross-sectional view ofthe universal wheel cap assembly depicted in FIG. 9. This embodiment ofthe present invention comprises a universal wheel cap assembly similarto the assembly of system 100 discussed above, except for theconfiguration of the tracks along the posterior region of the body ofthe adapter in the assembly of system 900, and also that this embodimentexcludes the use of a separate removable cap (such as cap 103) becausethe adapter excludes a center aperture such as aperture 115;essentially, the adapter includes a body that provides a seal to anexisting aperture of a wheel, such as aperture 109 of wheel 104.

Accordingly, FIG. 9-FIG. 9C depict system 900, which may generallyinclude an adapter 901, and a plurality of lug sleeves 902, which areslidably coupled to the adapter 901 via a plurality of tracks 914 on ananterior surface of the adapter 901, each of the tracks 914 is adaptedto register with a portion of one of the plurality of lug sleeves 902,and a wheel center cap (cap 903) that is integral with adapter 901 andmore specifically that is integral with a center region of the adapter901. That is, in this embodiment, the cap is not removable but rather ispart of the body of the adapter 901. Adapter 901 couples to a portion ofa vehicle wheel 904 in order to adorn a center region 105 of the wheel104.

In exemplary embodiments, adapter 901 has an anterior or front surface912 that is configured to conceal the wheel's bolts 106 and bolt holesthat typically surround the center region 105 from which the spokes 107radiate towards the rim 108 of the wheel 104. At the center region 105of wheel 104, an opening 109 is typically covered by a center cap, andsystem 900 enables a user to adapter 901, which includes an integral capor cap region 903. To these ends, at least a portion of adapter 901 isconfigured to register with a center opening 109 of the wheel 104 inorder to secure a portion of adapter 901 to wheel 104. To these ends,lug sleeves 902 facilitate securing adapter 901 to wheel 104. Each ofthe lug sleeves 902 are configured to slide throughout a length of eachof the tracks 914 that radiate from a center hub 920. Because each ofthe lug sleeves 902 can move along a length of each of the tracks 914,each lug sleeve 902 can be placed along a circumference about center hub920 in order to properly align with a lug alignment of an existingwheel. In this way, adapter 901 is compatible with a wide variety ofwheel models and configurations.

In some exemplary embodiments, such as the one displayed in the currentview, the adapter of the wheel cap assembly may include a body 911having a planar disk shape with an anterior surface 912 and a posteriorsurface 913, whereby the anterior surface may be smooth and theposterior surface 913 may include a plurality of tracks 914 that areadapted to slidably receive each of the lug sleeves 902. At the centerof the disk body 911, instead of an aperture, a cap or cap region 903may be formed so that the wheel cap is integral with adapter 901.Moreover, in this exemplary embodiment, the plurality of tracks 914 areconfigured to accommodate a combination of 4 lug sleeves, 5 lug sleeves,6 lug sleeves, or 8 lug sleeves. To these ends, the plurality of tracksmay be labeled with markings adapted to instruct a user on a placementof the plurality of lug sleeves. For example, and without limiting thescope of the present invention, if a particular wheel requires the useof 4 lugs, lug sleeves may be coupled to tracks 914 a, 914 b, 914 d, and914 g only. Similarly, if a particular wheel requires the use of 5 lugs,lug sleeves may be coupled to tracks 914 a, 914 b, 914 c, 914 e, and 914g only.

FIG. 9A-FIG. 9B illustrate lug sleeves for a wheel center cap assemblysystem 900. It may be appreciated that each lug sleeve 902 includes atop portion that is configured to receive or register with a portion ofeach track 914, and a bottom portion that is configured to receive orregister with a portion of a wheel lug. These sleeve sleeves have thesame features as lug sleeves 102 discussed above.

FIG. 9E illustrates a cross-sectional view of the universal wheel capassembly, and more specifically, a cross-sectional view of adapter 901along line segment A-A. From this view, it can be appreciated that wheelcap 903 is integral with a body 911 of the adapter 901.

A method of installing assemblies 100 or 900 may include the followingsteps. Selecting the number of lug sleeves suitable for the target wheelor set of wheels of a vehicle. Coupling the correct number of lugsleeves to each of the plurality of tracks situated on a posteriorsurface of the adapter, sliding each lug sleeve to a desired positionalong the track. Aligning the coupling end of each lug sleeve to eachcorresponding lug of the wheel. Snapping each lug sleeve onto eachcorresponding lug. In the case of assembly 100, if a removable wheelcenter cap is used, then selectively coupling the wheel center cap tothe center region of the adapter. In the case of assembly 900, nofurther steps maybe required, since assembly 900 includes a wheel centercap that is integral with the body of the adapter.

Turning now to the next set of figures, FIG. 10 illustrates a universalcenter cap assembly system in accordance with some exemplary embodimentsof the present invention; and FIG. 10A illustrates an explodedperspective view thereof. More specifically, these figures depict wheelcenter cap assembly system (system 1000). In exemplary embodiments,system 1000 includes an adapter 1001 having a cylindrical body adaptedto be at least partially inserted within a center aperture 105 of avehicle wheel 104, the adapter 1001 including an anterior region 1001 aand a posterior region 1001 b. Moreover, system 1000 includes aposterior support 1002 that registers with the posterior region 1001 bof the adapter 1001. The posterior support 1002 adapted to be sandwichedbetween a wheel rotor of the vehicle (or rotor plate or rotor region,not shown) and the vehicle wheel 104 to secure the adapter 1001 insidethe center aperture 105 of the vehicle wheel 104. Once secured therein,a removable wheel center cap 1003 that registers with the anteriorregion 1001 a of the adapter 1001, may be secured to the adapter 1001.In exemplary embodiments, multiple styles may be provided for removablewheel center cap 1003.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded perspective view of universal wheel capassembly 1000 in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thepresent invention; FIG. 12 illustrates another exploded perspective viewof the universal wheel cap assembly depicted in FIG. 11. From theseviews, several features of the components of assembly 1000 may beappreciated.

The anterior region 1001 a of the adapter 1001 includes an anteriorcylindrical surface 1004 adapted to register with an interior surface1005 of the removable wheel center cap 1003. The anterior cylindricalsurface 1004 of the adapter 1001 includes one or more protrusions 1006adapted to secure the removable wheel center cap 1003 to the adapter1001. Similarly, the removable wheel center cap 1003 includes one ormore complementary protrusions 1007 adapted to secure the removablewheel center cap 1003 to the adapter 1001. The posterior region 1001 bof the adapter 1001 includes a posterior cylindrical surface 1008adapted to register with a protruding cylindrical surface 1009 of theposterior support 1002. The posterior cylindrical surface 1008 of theadapter 1001 includes one or more protrusions 1010 adapted to secure theadapter 1001 to the posterior support 1001. Similarly, the posteriorsupport 1002 includes one or more complementary protrusions 1011 adaptedto secure the posterior support 1002 to the adapter 1001.

The posterior support 1002 includes a flat posterior surface 1012adapted to be sandwiched between a wheel rotor of the vehicle (notshown) and the vehicle wheel 104. This secures the posterior supportonce the vehicle wheel is secured with the lugs, which in turn securesthe adapter inside the center aperture 105 of the vehicle wheel 104 byvirtue of the adapter being secured to the posterior support 1002.

In some exemplary embodiments, the anterior region 1001 a of the adapter1001 includes a smaller circumference than a center region 1001 c of thecylindrical body. In some exemplary embodiments, the posterior region1001 b of the adapter includes a circumference equal to thecircumference of the center region 1001 c of the cylindrical body.

The next two figures show cross-sectional views of the wheel center capassembly coupled to wheel 104, in accordance with the present invention.FIG. 13 illustrates a cross-sectional exploded view of universal wheelcap assembly 1000, and FIG. 14 illustrates a cross-sectional assembledview of universal wheel cap assembly 1000.

A method of installing assembly 1000 may include the following steps.Removing a wheel from the vehicle. Placing posterior support 1002 behindthe wheel so that it is sandwiched between a wheel rotor of the vehicleand the vehicle wheel when the wheel is placed back onto the vehicle.This will secure the adapter inside the center aperture of the vehiclewheel. Inserting the adapter 1001 at least partially inside or within acenter aperture 105 of vehicle wheel 104, so that the anterior region1001 a faces an anterior of the wheel 104 and so that the posteriorregion 1001 b faces a posterior region of the wheel. The posteriorregion 1001 b of the adapter 1001 is coupled to the anterior region 1009of the posterior support 1002, for example by interlocking protrusions1010 with 1011. Once the adapter and posterior support are secured toeach other and the wheel, the wheel can be secured back to the vehicleand as mentioned above the flat posterior surface 1012 is sandwichedbetween a wheel rotor of the vehicle (not shown) and the vehicle wheel104. This secures the posterior support once the vehicle wheel issecured with the lugs, which in turn secures the adapter inside thecenter aperture 105 of the vehicle wheel 104 by virtue of the adapterbeing secured to the posterior support 1002. With the wheel back on thevehicle, the removable wheel center cap 1003 can be coupled to theanterior region 1001 a of the adapter, typically by registeringprotrusions 1007 of the removable wheel center cap 1003 with protrusions1006 of the adapter 1001.

Wheel center cap assemblies and associated systems and methods ofinstalling the same have been described. The foregoing description ofthe various exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presentedfor the purposes of illustration and disclosure. It is not intended tobe exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed.Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the aboveteaching without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wheel center cap assembly, comprising: anadapter configured to couple with a center region of a vehicle wheel andincluding a plurality of tracks; a plurality of lug sleeves configuredto couple with a plurality of lugs of the vehicle wheel, at least one ofthe plurality of lug sleeves slidably coupled to at least one of theplurality of tracks of the adapter; and a wheel center cap thatregisters or is integral with a center region of the adapter.
 2. Thewheel center cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tracksextend radially from the center region of the adapter.
 3. The wheelcenter cap assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter comprises an annularor disk body.
 4. The wheel center cap assembly of claim 1, wherein theadapter comprises: a planar posterior surface; and an anterior surfacethat includes the plurality of tracks.
 5. The wheel center cap assemblyof claim 1, wherein the plurality of tracks are disposed on a posteriorsurface of the adapter.
 6. The wheel center cap assembly of claim 1,wherein each lug sleeve comprises: a cylindrical body with a top surfaceand a bottom surface; a track receiving cavity on the top surface of thelug sleeve configured to register with at least one of the plurality oftracks of the adapter so that the lug sleeve can move along a length ofthe at least one of the plurality of tracks; and a lug receivingaperture on the bottom surface.
 7. The wheel center cap assembly ofclaim 6, wherein the lug receiving aperture on the bottom surface ofeach lug sleeve includes a perimeter adapted to snap onto an existingwheel lug of the vehicle wheel.
 8. The wheel center cap assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the wheel center cap is removable.
 9. The wheel centercap assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tracks are configuredto accommodate a combination of 4 lug sleeve, 5 lug sleeves, 6 lugsleeves, or 8 lug sleeves.
 10. The wheel center cap assembly of claim 9,wherein the plurality of tracks are labeled with markings adapted toinstruct a user on a placement of the plurality of lug sleeves.
 11. Awheel center cap assembly, comprising: an adapter having a disk body andconfigured to couple with a center region of a vehicle wheel, theadapter including a plurality of tracks on a posterior surface of thedisk body that extend radially from a center region of the adapter; anda plurality of lug sleeves configured to couple with a plurality of lugsof the vehicle wheel, at least one of the plurality of lug sleevesslidably coupled to at least one of the plurality of tracks of theadapter; and a wheel center cap that registers or is integral with acenter region of the adapter.
 12. The wheel center cap assembly of claim11, wherein each lug sleeve comprises: a cylindrical body with a topsurface and a bottom surface; a track receiving cavity on the topsurface of the lug sleeve configured to register with at least one ofthe plurality of tracks of the adapter so that the lug sleeve can movealong a length of the at least one of the plurality of tracks; and a lugreceiving aperture on the bottom surface.
 13. The wheel center capassembly of claim 12, wherein the lug receiving aperture on the bottomsurface of each lug sleeve includes a perimeter adapted to snap onto anexisting wheel lug of the vehicle wheel.
 14. The wheel center capassembly of claim 11, wherein the plurality of tracks are configured toaccommodate a combination of 4 lug sleeves, 5 lug sleeves, 6 lugsleeves, or 8 lug sleeves.
 15. The wheel center cap assembly of claim15, wherein the plurality of tracks are labeled with markings adapted toinstruct a user on a placement of the plurality of lug sleeves.
 16. Awheel center cap assembly, comprising: an adapter configured to couplewith a center region of a vehicle wheel, the adapter including aplurality of tracks; a plurality of lug sleeves configured to couplewith a plurality of lugs of the vehicle wheel, at least one of theplurality of lug sleeves slidably coupled to at least one of theplurality of tracks of the adapter, wherein each lug sleeve comprises: acylindrical body with a top surface and a bottom surface; a trackreceiving cavity on the top surface of the lug sleeve configured toregister with at least one of the plurality of tracks of the adapter sothat the lug sleeve can move along a length of the at least one of theplurality of tracks; and a lug receiving aperture on the bottom surface;and a wheel center cap that registers or is integral with a centerregion of the adapter.
 17. The wheel center cap assembly of claim 16,wherein the plurality of tracks extend radially from the center regionof the adapter.
 18. The wheel center cap assembly of claim 16, whereinthe adapter comprises a disk body and the plurality of tracks aredisposed on a posterior surface of the disk body.
 19. The wheel centercap assembly of claim 16, wherein the lug receiving aperture on thebottom surface of each lug sleeve includes a perimeter adapted to snaponto an existing wheel lug of the vehicle wheel.
 20. The wheel centercap assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of tracks are configuredto accommodate a combination of 4 lug sleeves, 5 lug sleeves, 6 lugsleeves, or 8 lug sleeves.